)
ASIS Professional Certified Investigator (PCI)
Domains: Case Management | Evidence Collection | Interviews | Law & Ethics | Report
Writing
1. What is the primary purpose of case management in investigations?
A) To gather as much evidence as possible
B) To systematically organize, track, and resolve investigative matters
C) To ensure maximum prosecution
D) To document all employee activities
✓ Correct Answer: B
2. Which document formally opens an investigation case?
A) Case initiation report
B) Incident report only
C) Witness statement
D) Court order
✓ Correct Answer: A
3. What is the first step when an investigator receives an allegation?
A) Interview the subject immediately
B) Conduct surveillance
C) Assess and triage the complaint to determine scope and priority
D) Notify law enforcement
✓ Correct Answer: C
4. A chain of custody document is primarily used to:
A) List all witnesses
B) Track the handling and transfer of physical evidence
C) Record interview notes
D) Document surveillance activities
, ✓ Correct Answer: B
5. Which of the following best describes a case management system?
A) A filing cabinet for paper documents
B) A law enforcement database
C) A background check tool
D) A software or process for tracking cases from intake to resolution
✓ Correct Answer: D
6. When prioritizing cases, which factor is MOST important?
A) Potential harm or risk to the organization
B) Date the complaint was filed
C) Identity of the complainant
D) Cost of the investigation
✓ Correct Answer: A
7. What is a conflict of interest in case management?
A) Two investigators working the same case
B) A case involving multiple suspects
C) A situation where an investigator has personal interest in the outcome
D) A jurisdictional dispute between agencies
✓ Correct Answer: C
8. The investigative plan should include:
A) Only the names of suspects
B) Objectives, scope, resources, and timeline
C) Only a list of witnesses
D) The final conclusions
✓ Correct Answer: B
9. Which case management metric measures the time from case opening to
resolution?
A) Case load
B) Evidence count
C) Interview number
D) Cycle time
✓ Correct Answer: D
,10. What does 'scope creep' mean in an investigation?
A) Uncontrolled expansion of the investigation beyond its original boundaries
B) An increase in the number of investigators
C) A reduction in case priority
D) Expanding evidence storage
✓ Correct Answer: A
11. A 'parallel investigation' occurs when:
A) Two suspects are investigated separately
B) An investigation is paused and restarted
C) Both a criminal and civil/administrative investigation run simultaneously
D) Two departments share case files
✓ Correct Answer: C
12. Who should typically authorize opening a formal investigation?
A) The investigator themselves
B) An appropriate level of management or legal counsel
C) The complainant
D) A third-party vendor
✓ Correct Answer: B
13. What is the purpose of a case status report?
A) To keep stakeholders informed of investigation progress
B) To list all evidence collected
C) To document interview transcripts
D) To submit charges to prosecutors
✓ Correct Answer: A
14. When should an investigator consider closing a case?
A) After 30 days regardless of outcome
B) When the subject resigns
C) When media attention subsides
D) When the investigative objectives have been met or it is determined that
continuation is not warranted
✓ Correct Answer: D
15. Case files should be retained for:
A) 6 months minimum
, B) According to organizational policy and applicable legal requirements
C) Indefinitely in all cases
D) Until the subject is terminated
✓ Correct Answer: B
16. What is a 'subject' in an investigation?
A) A witness who provides testimony
B) An anonymous tipster
C) The person or entity whose conduct is under investigation
D) The supervising investigator
✓ Correct Answer: C
17. Investigative findings should be:
A) Based on facts and evidence, not speculation
B) Based on the investigator's intuition
C) Aligned with what management wants to hear
D) Shared widely to deter future misconduct
✓ Correct Answer: A
18. Which principle requires that case information be shared only with those who
need to know?
A) Transparency
B) Objectivity
C) Accountability
D) Confidentiality
✓ Correct Answer: D
19. An investigative hypothesis is best described as:
A) A confirmed conclusion
B) A tentative explanation to be tested against evidence
C) A legal charge
D) A management decision
✓ Correct Answer: B
20. What should happen if an investigator discovers evidence of a crime during an
internal investigation?
A) Ignore it if not relevant to the original complaint
B) Destroy it to avoid complications
ASIS Professional Certified Investigator (PCI)
Domains: Case Management | Evidence Collection | Interviews | Law & Ethics | Report
Writing
1. What is the primary purpose of case management in investigations?
A) To gather as much evidence as possible
B) To systematically organize, track, and resolve investigative matters
C) To ensure maximum prosecution
D) To document all employee activities
✓ Correct Answer: B
2. Which document formally opens an investigation case?
A) Case initiation report
B) Incident report only
C) Witness statement
D) Court order
✓ Correct Answer: A
3. What is the first step when an investigator receives an allegation?
A) Interview the subject immediately
B) Conduct surveillance
C) Assess and triage the complaint to determine scope and priority
D) Notify law enforcement
✓ Correct Answer: C
4. A chain of custody document is primarily used to:
A) List all witnesses
B) Track the handling and transfer of physical evidence
C) Record interview notes
D) Document surveillance activities
, ✓ Correct Answer: B
5. Which of the following best describes a case management system?
A) A filing cabinet for paper documents
B) A law enforcement database
C) A background check tool
D) A software or process for tracking cases from intake to resolution
✓ Correct Answer: D
6. When prioritizing cases, which factor is MOST important?
A) Potential harm or risk to the organization
B) Date the complaint was filed
C) Identity of the complainant
D) Cost of the investigation
✓ Correct Answer: A
7. What is a conflict of interest in case management?
A) Two investigators working the same case
B) A case involving multiple suspects
C) A situation where an investigator has personal interest in the outcome
D) A jurisdictional dispute between agencies
✓ Correct Answer: C
8. The investigative plan should include:
A) Only the names of suspects
B) Objectives, scope, resources, and timeline
C) Only a list of witnesses
D) The final conclusions
✓ Correct Answer: B
9. Which case management metric measures the time from case opening to
resolution?
A) Case load
B) Evidence count
C) Interview number
D) Cycle time
✓ Correct Answer: D
,10. What does 'scope creep' mean in an investigation?
A) Uncontrolled expansion of the investigation beyond its original boundaries
B) An increase in the number of investigators
C) A reduction in case priority
D) Expanding evidence storage
✓ Correct Answer: A
11. A 'parallel investigation' occurs when:
A) Two suspects are investigated separately
B) An investigation is paused and restarted
C) Both a criminal and civil/administrative investigation run simultaneously
D) Two departments share case files
✓ Correct Answer: C
12. Who should typically authorize opening a formal investigation?
A) The investigator themselves
B) An appropriate level of management or legal counsel
C) The complainant
D) A third-party vendor
✓ Correct Answer: B
13. What is the purpose of a case status report?
A) To keep stakeholders informed of investigation progress
B) To list all evidence collected
C) To document interview transcripts
D) To submit charges to prosecutors
✓ Correct Answer: A
14. When should an investigator consider closing a case?
A) After 30 days regardless of outcome
B) When the subject resigns
C) When media attention subsides
D) When the investigative objectives have been met or it is determined that
continuation is not warranted
✓ Correct Answer: D
15. Case files should be retained for:
A) 6 months minimum
, B) According to organizational policy and applicable legal requirements
C) Indefinitely in all cases
D) Until the subject is terminated
✓ Correct Answer: B
16. What is a 'subject' in an investigation?
A) A witness who provides testimony
B) An anonymous tipster
C) The person or entity whose conduct is under investigation
D) The supervising investigator
✓ Correct Answer: C
17. Investigative findings should be:
A) Based on facts and evidence, not speculation
B) Based on the investigator's intuition
C) Aligned with what management wants to hear
D) Shared widely to deter future misconduct
✓ Correct Answer: A
18. Which principle requires that case information be shared only with those who
need to know?
A) Transparency
B) Objectivity
C) Accountability
D) Confidentiality
✓ Correct Answer: D
19. An investigative hypothesis is best described as:
A) A confirmed conclusion
B) A tentative explanation to be tested against evidence
C) A legal charge
D) A management decision
✓ Correct Answer: B
20. What should happen if an investigator discovers evidence of a crime during an
internal investigation?
A) Ignore it if not relevant to the original complaint
B) Destroy it to avoid complications
